Leaders in fashion!

7:20

I’m not going to lie. I’ve got The Great Gatsby on the brain, and I am anticipating bearing witness to our sumptuous little pre-party.

Men and women dressed to the nines, gorgeous plates piled high with delicious bites both savory and sweet, and free-flowing libations—what’s not to love.

I wonder if there will be any Gatsby-inspired attire? Or, for that matter how about some mod looks inspired by this season of Mad Men?

Doors will open for the VIP pre-party sponsored by Nationwide and Justice & Brothers in just a few minutes.

I must note: This space went from garage to club in a matter of days thanks to Ologie, Lasting Impressions, and many, many CCAD staffers (our facilities’ crew are wizards). The food looks amazing (thank you Cameron Mitchell Catering). I saw the menu a few weeks ago—my mouth watered just reading it. And, bartenders are ready to shake up a Vodka Runway (our signature cocktail, thank you Middle West Spirits).

And me? I’m ready to take it all in.

8 p.m.

Um, sorry, I’m afraid I got a little sidetracked. The people watching is just TOO good. When the first wave of partiers arrived, the energy level went from 0 to 60 in less than three minutes. I have a great view of the photo station—where the fashionable show off their looks for our photographer.

So many fun pieces coming through. Fantastic black-and-white patterned dress that definitely has a 20s vibe, and a strappy version of go-go boots with a bright cocktail length dress. Fantastic!

A woman in a stunning off the shoulder deep-blue gown just passed.

I think I just saw a blond version of Megan Draper. Gorgeous 60s-inspired mini that is sooooo Megan.

Our prez, Mr. Denny Griffith has just stopped by to say hello–dapper as always. Speaking of dapper, our head of security Wallace Tanksley is sporting a mighty fine lime green bow tie.

Seeing lots of leg and strappy gladiator shoes. Denim is making a strong showing, which is right on trend with some of the collections that this crowd will see in an hour.

Orange, lime green, and black-and-white are dominating the looks this evening.

To the guy in the hat and vest, thank you. And to all of our bow-tie wearing gentleman, we applaud you.

As I look around I am not disappointed. I’m seeing great fashion, but I”m also seeing women and men that are dressing to suite their unique style—there are no cookie-cutters here.

8:15

And now they are asking everyone to start heading into the tent so the show can begin. Hopefully as they sit, they’ll have a moment to flip through the Lookbook sponsored by Abercrombe & Fitch. It is stunning thanks to the photographic talents of Nick Fancher and the creative direction from Ologie.

Ok, we are going to get some photos up and then head over to the tent to continue …

Thanks to our title sponsor Limited Brands Foundation

7 p.m.

This is my third year live blogging from our fashion event, and each year I have paused, just before the party starts, to give thanks.

This year I want to get straight to the point—to naming names, as it were.

CCAD is honored and grateful to have such wonderful partners. Each year we go out and ask organizations and individuals to support this event and help us raise money for scholarships. Each year we are humbled by the response.

Below are our 2013 partners. These are individuals and companies that not only support CCAD, but they show a real commitment to making the Columbus community a better place.

Title Sponsor: Limited Brands Foundation

Runway Sponsor: EXPRESS

VIP Cocktail Reception Sponsors: Nationwide and Justice & Brothers

Easton Fashion Award Sponsor: Easton Town Center

Fashion Lookbook Sponsor: Abercrombie & Fitch

Couture Sponsors:  Diamond Cellar, Huntington Bank, Lane Bryant, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Polaris Fashion Place, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP,  R.G. Barry/Dearfoams, and THE LIMITED

Host Committee, chaired by Peg Mativi & Donald Dick: Dana & Mitch Acock, Jakki & Jerry Allen, Pam & Jack Beeler, Teresa & Brian Biernat, Kimberly A. Blackwell, W. Daniel Cordray, Loann W. Crane, Bev & Bob Darwin, Steve & Lynnda Maria Davis, Diane & Andrew Dunn, Phaedra & Michael Edwards, Karen & Michael Fiorile, Erica & Micky Fullen, Nedra Patison Hadley & Alissa Hadley Hines, Fran Horowitz & Michael Bonadies, Alexis Jacobs, Andrew Johnson, Patty & Jerry Jurgensen, Stephanie & Adam Lewin, Tim Maurer & Sanito Mendoza, Jamie & Bill Reinbolt, Arlene & Michael Weiss, and Lyn Williams

Creative Direction: Ologie

Media Sponsors: CD102.5 and Capital Style

In-Kind Sponsors: Baesman Group, Cameron Mitchell Catering, Details and Florabunda Designs Inc., Heidelberg Distributing Company, Lasting Impressions Event Rental, Live! Technologies, LLC, Mukha Custom Cosmetics, Mumm Napa, and Nick Fancher

In-Kind Supporters: Jolie Laide, Middle West Spirits, Pepsi Cola Bottling of Columbus, and Rainer/S77

Postcard for the 2013 Senior Fashion Show, created by Ologie

It’s probably no surprise that Fashion Design students at Columbus College of Art & Design work night and day for a chance to see their garments go down the runway during that special night in May. What you may not know is that there is another team working night and day on the show—the design team at Ologie, the firm that is again tackling the creative challenge of branding an amazing event experience for the college and those lucky ticket holders who come to our show.

Casey Carmell, a designer at Ologie explained that this year’s visual identity for the show is focused on the designer’s process.

“We’re interested in where they find their inspiration, seeing their fashion illustrations, their ideas in their sketchbooks, and understanding the tools and materials they use,” said Carmell.

This is the fifth year that Ologie, has helped CCAD develop the marketing materials for the show, but this year they are diving even deeper and looking at the full customer experience, from the invite to the big tent.

A major visual component of the show (other than, of course, the fabulous student designs coming down the runway) is the lookbook. This signature piece is not a simple program but a photo-rich book that is placed in portfolios and shared with prospective students considering CCAD’s Fashion Design program.

Like any top-tier fashion magazine, photography is the key element. This year Ologie has brought in photographer Nick Fancher, who has already begun shooting select garments for early print ads. For the lookbook, Ologie  has a very clear vision for the daylong photo shoot in March (which naturally you can read about on this blog, March 10).

“From a visual standpoint, the photography will show glimpses of the designers in the studio at CCAD—fitting their models, photographs of their sketchbooks and inspiration boards,” Carmell said. “We’ve also brought in the materials they use to create their pieces as graphic elements, like the good guide and graph paper they use, the shapes of garment blocks, and different types of stitching. That’s all part of the visual language for this year.

“The whole design process has been exciting for me,” Carmell said. “It has been fun talking with the students and understanding their process. Working with this year’s photographer Nick Fancher has been great. And of course the team at CCAD has been great to work with—I can’t wait for the photo shoot to see all the hard work of these designers come to life—it is going to be awesome.”

Leading the charge and sharing her expertise throughout the process has been Ologie founder and CCAD alumna Bev Bethge. Bethge and her team have been supporting CCAD’s marketing and branding efforts for many years, including developing the college’s brand guidelines. Most recently the agency launched a new suite of recruitment materials for CCAD.

Tickets for the 2013 Senior Fashion Show are on sale, buy them now, the advance purchase special ends March 28, and don’t forget this event is a fundraiser for student scholarships.

Ologie created a suite of materials that show that a CCAD degree is anything but impractical.

It’s been a whirlwind six months for CCAD’s admission staff. They welcomed an energetic new director, launched an aggressive series of additional events, and unveiled an exciting suite of fresh recruitment materials—the result:  A notable uptick in applications submitted well before the Feb. 15 priority deadline.

“It’s exciting,” said Densil Porteous, director of admissions, about the rise in applicants. “We tried some new things, and people really responded to them. That is always gratifying.”

Porteous joined CCAD in August and hit the ground running. An early initiative of the office, which Porteous embraced, was the development of a series of new on-campus events called CCAD Discovery Days.

“We had a good problem. Routinely we were seeing that our on-campus admissions events were coming in well over capacity,” said Porteous. “We realized that a large number of prospective students wanted opportunities to engage with the college and so we developed an additional series of events that also included opportunities to discover our city, Columbus, as well as our campus.”

Not only were the new events a huge success but the existing events continue to register to capacity.

Another addition to the admissions tool kit was a new suite of recruitment materials.

“One of our challenges was overcoming the myth of the starving artist,” explained Robin Hepler, CCAD’s director of Marketing & Communications. “The tricky part is showing how an art and design college is a good investment without diluting the creative part of what we do. We need to speak to the practical and the artistic sides of students and parents.”

To help CCAD with this challenge the college engaged Ologie , a nationally recognized branding company owned and operated by alumna Bev Bethge.

In a recent posting Ologie described their approach: “In response, Ologie developed an integrated campaign with several pieces: an eye-catching poster for generating leads, a kit for introducing CCAD to art teachers and guidance counselors, and an oversized viewbook for following up with prospects. The viewbook included a glossary with some 60 potential careers for graduates, making it clear that a CCAD degree is anything but impractical.”

“Ologie gave us several new tools to use,” said Hepler. “One of the things I love most is how they play with our name—taking us beyond Columbus College of Art & Design in a way that is playful and a little quirky.”

Whether prospects responded to the new events or the idea of being part of “Columbus College of Loving What You Do” they responded.

“Not only have we seen more applications, we’ve been really impressed by the quality of work in the portfolios we’ve been reviewing,” said Porteous. “I think the next few weeks are going to be especially exciting as we come up on our Feb. 15 priority deadline. Students who apply by this date will get priority consideration not only for admission, but also for scholarships. It’s going to be a very busy two weeks.”

Learn more about applying to CCAD here. The college is hosting its next CCAD Discovery Days event on Saturday, April 13 (which is also the date for the CCAD Art Fair).

Check out the 2012 show!

The fashion show tickets are here!

The fashion show tickets are here!

Ok, I got that out of my system (and I swear I wasn’t just jumping around my office shouting that. Really). But seriously, tickets are now on sale for CCAD’s May 10 fashion EVENT. That’s right, I said event, because it is so much more than a show (haven’t been? Check out the video).

The three most important things you need to know right-this-second are:

1. We are once again offering a special advance-purchase price. Buy now, and not only do you save a few bucks but you ensure that you actually get a ticket—we keep selling out and we’ve run out of places to add seats (believe me we’ve tried).
2. Limited Brands Foundation has once again stepped up as our title sponsor. This generous sponsorship is further evidence of the foundation’s commitment to and investment in our creative community.
3. This event raises funds for scholarships—every attendee and sponsor is investing in a CCAD student’s education while having an amazing night on our campus.

Each year we strive to top the year before. This year we have a larger senior class. With so much talent to tap into we are planning to extend the show; however, with so many designers, each allowed to present for consideration up to six garments, there is going to be even more fierce competition to impress the jury and get those looks on the runway.

We’ve brought back fashion blogger Kristen Foley, and she recently shared another exciting twist to this year’s runway show.  Each designer will be truly presenting their own collection. That is, there is no overarching theme. The work we see this year will be a pure reflection of the designer’s inspiration. Soon, Kristen will be sitting down with each designer so we can learn a little bit more about what they have planned for this May.

Each year we are thrilled and humbled by the support we get from our business partners through sponsorships. Their generosity ensures we produce a great event and still raise those critical scholarship dollars.

If you happen to be checking out this post after the publish date there is a very good chance more partners have joined us, so please take a second to visit the event page for a full list of supporters—and show that you appreciate their support of local causes, by supporting them.

Without further ado, a big thanks to: Runway Sponsor, EXPRESS;  Fashion Lookbook Sponsor, Abercrombie & Fitch; Easton Fashion Award Sponsor, Easton Town Center;  VIP Cocktail Reception Sponsors, Nationwide & Justice; Couture Sponsors, Diamond Cellar, Huntington Bank, Lane Bryant, Macy’s, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, RG Barry/Dearfoams, and THE LIMITED; In-Kind Sponsors, Cameron Mitchell Catering, Heidelberg Distributing Company, Live! Technologies, LLC, Mukha Custom Cosmetics, Mumm Napa, and Ologie; In-Kind Supporters, Middle West Spirits; and Media Sponsor, CD102.5.

While you are heading to our event page to get your tickets, also be sure to check out our ever-growing host committee chaired by the fabulous Peg Mativi and Donald Dick.

Back stage chaos.

7 p.m.

It is the calm before the storm.

Well, if you don’t include the backstage area where the storm has already struck in the form of whirling dervish hair dressers, make-up artists, models, and frantic senior designers who are about to see their garments shoot down the runway.

The registration tables are armed and ready for the 800 + guests who will soon come to join us to celebrate another year of amazing art and design—and of course a spectacular runway show.

Thanks to Limitedbrands Foundation, who once again stepped up to be the event’s title sponsor, we truly can celebrate knowing we have raised significant dollars to support the scholarships that help make the dream of a college education a reality.

The VIP pre-show party, sponsored by Nationwide, is set up and ready. The caterers are standing by to share delightful tidbits of nosh that look almost too good to eat. (Almost. There really should be a special bloggers snack plate, don’t ya think?) The bartenders are stocked and ready to pour.

The bartenders are well stocked.

Of course, those bartenders will be extra busy later when all of our guests head back towards our mixologist after the runway show to enjoy a drink and some dancing thanks to our Après Runway Sponsors Capital Style Magazine and Justice. But before the post-show party, there will be one hella-good show as one-of-a-kind fashion struts down the runway, which comes to us thanks to EXPRESS; and, at some point in the proceedings, Easton Town Center will honor one of the fashion students with the inaugural Easton Fashion Award.

But, for now, things are calm. Surrounding the runway are neat rows of seats, each topped with a lookbook, sponsored by Abercrombie & Fitch, and gift provided by Mukha Custom Cosmetics. Soon those seats will be filled by VIP ticket holders.

Sponsors, of course, are crucial to a fundraising event and I really do need to take a moment and be sure we thank every generous business and individual who has helped us build this experience.

Our Couture sponsors are Diamond Cellar, Huntington Bank, Lane Bryant, THE LIMITED, Macy’s, NORDSTROM, Polaris Fashion Place, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, and R.G. Barry/Dearfoams.

Our printing sponsor is Baesman and the General Admission Pre-Party sponsor is Union Café.

This year’s host committee co-chairs are Karen & Michael Fiorile and Ellen & Ed Yen

And our 2012 host committee is: Dana & Mitch Acock, Jakki & Jerry Allen, Jamie & Steve Allen, Trudy & Earl Bartley, Pam & Jack Beeler, Teresa & Brian Biernat, Kimberly A. Blackwell, W. Daniel Cordray, Mary & Colby Crall, Loann W. Crane, Bev Darwin, Phaedra & Michael Edwards, DeeDee & Herb Glimcher, Alexis Jacobs, Patty & Jerry Jurgensen, Charlotte & Jack Kessler, Monica & Doug Kridler, Stephanie & Adam Lewin, Peg Mativi & Donald Dick, Tim Maurer & Sanito Mendoza, Veda Nami, Jamie & Bill Reinbolt, Jody & Jeff Scheiman, Thekla Shackelford, Danielle & George Skestos, Jacqueline & Chris Snell, Arlene & Michael Weiss, and Lyn Williams.

Thank you!

Every aspect of our event is touched by community generosity via in-kind donations for everything from the catering via Cameron Mitchell Catering and the adult beverages from Heidelberg Distributing Company, Mumm Napa, and Middle West Spirits, who designed the event’s signature cocktail ARTini.

Backstage where the pre-show chaos reigns, Mukha Custom Cosmetics is once again making sure our models look fierce on the runway—and they are getting hair support from Studio Fovero.

There are behind the scenes elements (lights, video, sound) that usually go unnoticed other than the feeling the crowd gets when they witness a wonderfully staged event—much of the credit for that goes to Live! Technologies—although the thumping beats that get us from party to runway to party again come via our illustrious DJ Rainer. Oh, and speaking of the post-show party, VJ props go to Rainer and  S77.

And the exquisite lookbook that I mentioned before, well Ologie was a key player in mentoring its production along with the invite and branding for the show.

Flowers, chairs, tables and other event accessories come to us thanks to Lasting Impressions and FLOURISH bespoke floral & event styling.

Yum.

An event isn’t an EVENT, unless we sell tickets. That’s where our our media sponsors Capital Style Magazine and CD101 come in. They have spent the better part of the year helping us get the word out and sell tickets. Did you see our students in the May issue of Capital Style? If not, pick up a copy.

Oh, and despite rumors to the contrary, models need to eat—at least our student models do. Thanks to Donatos and Pepsi Cola Bottling of Columbus for keeping our students fed and hydrated during some long rehearsal hours. Also, walking in those heels…not as easy as it looks. Thanks to Foot Petals, inc for providing shoe inserts.

Big thanks and hearty applause to everyone who helped make this night happen.

Guests are arriving and I hear champagne popping, I wonder if I can sneak a canapé?

CCAD alumnus Thomas Boonyarungsrit at work.

By Kendra Hovey

With everything the Thai city of Bangkok has to offer, why would Thomas Katkanan Boonyarungsrit get a kick out of grocery shopping? Perhaps because when he shops, he might just spot his own illustration on the shelf or type treatment in the freezer aisle. The senior graphic designer crafts the look and feel of all kinds of products, from websites to logos to book covers, but consumer goods, he says, can be especially fun. “Seeing my designs hit the shelf all over the country—I feel very proud.”

We hope he feels just as proud when he opens this magazine. After all, he designed it. Days after his 2005 graduation from CCAD, the Thai native joined Columbus firm Ologie, where he helped rebrand Nationwide and CCAD, taking the lead on the initial design for Image [the print version]. A refresh or two later, 80% of his building blocks remain. About our revamps: “Ain’t bad at all,” he says, “I’m quite pleased with how it looks.”

These days the 29-year-old Boonyarungsrit reads Image in his hometown. In 2006, he returned to Bangkok, where—first at Young & Rubicam and now at Creative Juice/Bangkok—he’s built a career in advertising and a list of accounts that includes multinationals Bacardi, DQ, and Dell, among others.

Branding project from Boonyarungsrit's work with Young & Rubicam.

Recently, we caught up with him for a long-distance chat about career, life, and his very engaging French bulldog—but first on our list was to ask about his name. After all, he has three: Katkanan, his given name; Shane, a nickname from his parents (a common Thai practice) used by his nearest and dearest; and Thomas, an aid for English speakers and the one he suggested we use for this headline. He adopted it at 15 when he and his brother moved to New Zealand to attend high school.

Boonyarungsrit not only has three first names, he’s lived in three countries and on three continents (New Zealand being, officially, a “micro-continent.”) All of this occurred before he reached age 19. So when asked if he had any words of wisdom for current CCAD students, he answered from experience. “Don’t be afraid of change!” he says. “Life is all about learning, and there is so much out here for you to learn.”

Not one to ignore his own advice, Thomas recently made a big change: He joined a new agency, Creative Juice/Bangkok, which is ranked as the top creative firm in Thailand. For someone whose personal tagline, “Great Minds Don’t Think Alike,” is an inventive twist on a familiar saying, it seems like a good match.

IMAGE: Can you tell us a bit about your work in the advertising industry?

Boonyarungsrit: When I came back to Bangkok I took on a freelance project creating brand guidelines. That’s when I realized advertising was really where I wanted to be. I get to set the style, look, and feel, and I like to learn and be inspired among creative people. Designing for an agency means being involved in the whole production process, and I really enjoy working with the photographer, stylist, retoucher, supplier, event organizer. I learn so much from creative people in different fields.

IMAGE: What brought you from Thailand—by way of New Zealand—to CCAD?

Boonyarungsrit: I’ve enjoyed art since the age of eight. I guess it is in my blood. My dad used to make custom frames for artists and also owned an art and antiques shop. In high school, after I came in first in art for three years and won a couple of national competitions, I knew I wanted to make it my career. Art is big in the United  States and the United Kingdom, so my parents found out about good art colleges. When CCAD offered me a scholarship, I did not hesitate. I had heard that it had a great foundation program.

Boonyarungsrit and Rod-Tung (which means "a tank").

IMAGE: Any difficulties adjusting to life in the American Midwest?

Boonyarungsrit: Yes, but it was because of New Zealand! I had to change my accent and slang and spelling. For instance, in the States rubber does not mean eraser, tea is called dinner, and colour is spelled color. Returning to Thailand after 10 years also took adjustment. It is my home, but I didn’t know the streets. I had a very difficult time with directions.

IMAGE: What has been your experience having a degree from the States?

Boonyarungsrit: I think it gives me an advantage. My experience abroad shows flexibility, curiosity, adaptability, and pro-activity. Plus, of course, there are my additional language skills. I still use the knowledge I gained from those foundation studies every day—color theory, composition, etc. You never realize how much you have learned at CCAD till you’re actually using it in real life.

IMAGE: Is there anything we here in the States might not know about the advertising industry in Thailand?

Boonyarungsrit: The Thai consumer still consumes traditional media such as TV commercials and radio and print ads. Digital media is something Thai creatives are moving toward, but clients still think that the old-fashioned way is most effective. Therefore, entering awards is an important channel for young creatives and agencies like mine to create cool work and gain a reputation.

IMAGE: What do you like to do for fun?

Boonyarungsrit: I love to play guitar and sing. I also love traveling, especially to Japan. What I most enjoy about Bangkok is that everything comes in variety and is inexpensive. We have many foods from different cultures, many shopping malls, markets, beaches, and more.

IMAGE: You also seem to enjoy photography—or at least taking pictures of your dog! Can you tell us about her?

Boonyarungsrit: Ok! She is a French bulldog, and she is now about two years old. I named her “Rod-Tung,” which means “a tank.” She sleeps with me every night and wakes me up every morning, including weekends! She is very friendly with people, but won’t play with other dogs.

IMAGE: Lastly, what do you think about being part of the content in a magazine you designed?

Boonyarungsrit: Well, I do feel good about being featured in my own work!

(All images were provided by Thomas Boonyarungsrit.)

Click to view video

I feel like I need a bullhorn—something really dramatic to announce that our fashion show tickets are now available for purchase.

If you’ve attended the fashion show in the past you know three important things about this event:

1. It’s awesome
2.  It’s a fundraiser that supports scholarships for the next generation of creative professionals.
3. It sells out—every year.

Sure you may be thinking:  “No rush. The event isn’t until May. I have plenty of time.” If the possibility of being left out isn’t incentive enough to purchase your ticket today, how about a special offer? Right now there is an advance-purchase opportunity—that is, buy now because the ticket prices will increase on March 15.

OK, now that we’ve talked tickets, I want to take a moment to talk about one more very important thing: Sponsors.

Sponsors make this event spectacular. Without their support there is no event. Their generosity ensures that we raise funds for scholarships. Now more than ever, scholarships are the great equalizer. They ensure that talented students can get the education they need to enter the creative economy.

In particular I want to thank our title sponsor the Limitedbrands Foundation. They have been generous supporters of this event for many years. Their philanthropy is an investment in CCAD. Scholarships lead to education, education develops a creative, competitive workforce.

In addition, big thanks to: Runway Sponsor, EXPRESS;  Fashion Lookbook Sponsor, Abercrombie & Fitch; Easton Fashion Award Sponsor, Easton Town Center;  VIP Cocktail Reception Sponsor, Nationwide; Après-Runway Dance Party Sponsors, alive! & Justice; Couture Sponsors, Diamond Cellar, Huntington Bank, Lane Bryant, Macy’s, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, & RG Barry/Dearfoams; Printing Sponsor, baseman; In-Kind Sponsors, Cameron Mitchell Catering, Heidelberg Distributing Company, Live!, Mukha Custom Cosmetics, & Ologie; In-Kind Supporters, Lasting Impressions, Pepsi Cola Bottling of Columbus, & Studio Fovero; In-Kind Friends, Donatos, Foot Petals, Inc., & Middle West Spirits; and Media Sponsors, Capital Style & CD101.

As you head over to the Fashion Show Event page please take a moment to note the sponsors listed there and our fabulous host committee co-chaired by Karen & Michael Fiorile and Ellen & Ed Yen.

Finally, on a side note, this is my third year blogging about the fashion show; and I am excited to announce a change—I will not be blogging alone. Another writer will be joining me (you’ll meet her later). It will be awesome to bring a new voice to the blog, but I’ll admit—it’s a little bittersweet. This gig is so fun that it’s hard to share even one interview or story.

There’s a lot coming up in the following months. There will be a photo shoot for the lookbook, a team of fashion professionals will come to review the designer’s collection and jury the final garments for the show, and we’ll introduce you to each of the designers.

OK, go get your tickets now.

AndrewAndrew

Sometimes I just love my job. Now that we all have a natural fashion high, it’s time to work off that energy on the dance floor—thanks to alive!, our après-runway dance party sponsor.

AndrewAndrew and their magical iPads are BRINGING IT. Add in VJ Rainer’s amazing barrage of images projected on the garage walls, and the high-octane crowd already packing the dance floor—and well, if you’re here, you know, if you’re not … well …  there’s always next year.

If you haven’t already, check out my earlier posts from this evening for lots o pics (they are also on our Facebook page if you want to tag yourself). We’ll have more photos up (including from the dance party) next week (hey a girl can only do so much).

One quick note: as all guests leave tonight they will be taking home a gorgeous catalog sponsored by Abercrombie & Fitch and produced with Ologie. Our Designer Ticket guests will also receive a bottle of Icon, a delicious signature scent inspired by our event and created by Mr. Tim Maurer of Mukha Custom cosmetics.

Time to dance

I need to go now. There’s still a little time left for me to get my dance on. All work and no play … well you know the rest.

(Photos are also available on our Facebook page.)

Thanks to title sponsor Limted Brands Foundation & supporting sponsor Davis Foundation

6:30 p.m.

Very soon our first guests will begin to arrive. I just took a quick walk through of Design Studios on Broad and the big tent. In the “back stage” area all is organized chaos as the models go through hair and make-up. But the front of the house is, for just a moment, pristine and serene.

It’s beautiful.

Every year I am in awe at how all this comes together, and I am reminded of all of the amazing organizations and individuals that make it happen.

This year’s title sponsor is Limited Brands Foundation. Their significant support not only brings this event to life, but ensures that the real purpose of the night is realized—raising money for scholarships. They are joined by our supporting sponsor the William H. Davis, Dorothy M. Davis and William C. Davis Foundation.

As our Designer Ticket guests arrive they will go into an exclusive VIP pre-party thanks to the generosity of Co-Sponsors Justice and Nationwide. They will also enjoy some special perks including a high-end raffle item provided by in-kind sponsor Diamond Cellar.

Serene.

After a few cocktails, all of the guests will gather in the tent for the main event—Masters of Design, the 2011 Senior Fashion Show. And, this is an appropriate time to note our fantastic runway sponsor, EXPRESS.

Following the runway show, all guests are invited to the après-runway dance party sponsored by alive! And as guests leave (much later!) everyone will take home a gorgeous fashion-magazine-style catalog sponsored by Abercrombie & Fitch and created with in-kind sponsor Ologie. Designer Ticket holders will also go home with a bottle of Icon, the signature scent custom blended by in-kind sponsor Mukha Custom Cosmetics just for our event.

In keeping with our theme tonight we also have several couture sponsors: Huntington Bank , Macy’s, R.G. Barry/Dearfoams, State Auto Insurance Companies, and Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc.

An event is made great by the details and many of these come to us via in-kind sponsors. In addition to the companies I just mentioned,  AKADA Hair Salon joins Mukha in providing hair and makeup for our models; Lasting Impressions Event Rentals  and Live Technologies, Inc., give us that fashion week feel; Cameron Mitchell Catering has created an amazing menu (as always); Heidelberg Distributing Company and Pepsi-Cola Bottling of Columbus join Middle West Spirits in keeping us refreshed—dancing is thirsty work—and FRESH French Floral Boutique brings the ambiance; Scott Cunningham did the amazing photography you will see in the catalog; Rainer Ziehm is our spectacular VJ; and Donatos Pizza made sure our designers, models, and crew were fed during the 5-hour tech rehearsal.

It’s also important to remember that for the last six months our media sponsors, Capital Style, CD101 at 102.5, Radio One, and Fashion Wire Press, have helped us get the word out and sell tickets.

Finally I have to give a shout out to our host committee. They commit themselves to making sure we sell the tickets we need to sell to generate scholarships.

Chairs: George & Danielle Skestos;  Christie Angel & Otto Beatty III, Connie Leal Ballenger, Trudy & Earl Bartley, Pam & Jack Beeler, Bev Bethge, Teresa & Brian Biernat, Kimberly A. Blackwell, W. Daniel Cordray, Mark Corna, Loann W. Crane, Toni M. Cunningham, Bev Darwin, Phaedra & Michael Edwards, Karen & Michael Fiorile, Gigi & Sam Fried, Joy & Mike Gonsiorowski, Patricia R. Hatler & Howard A. Coffin, Joan Hill, Alexis Jacobs, Tad & Nancy Jeffrey, Patty & Jerry Jurgensen, Matt Kallner & Kelly Carter, Gale King, Stephanie & Adam Lewin, Peg Mativi & Donald Dick, Tim Maurer & Sanito Mendoza, Veda Nami, Joel Pizzuti ,Jane & Rich Ramsey, Kara & Scott Razek, Jamie & Bill Reinbolt, Jody & Jeff Scheiman, Eda & David Schottenstein, Thekla Shackelford, Chris & Jacqueline Snell, Jen Walker, Arlene & Michael Weiss, Lyn Williams, and Ed & Ellen Yen.

(And, yes we sold out)

Very soon 700 plus people will enjoy what these supporters have helped to build. And generations of future students will realize their creative potential thanks to the scholarship funds raised tonight.

Thank you, everyone!

I think I see our first guests arriving …

CCAD's Viewbook is honored with a merit award in the March issue of HOW Magazine.

CCAD’s collaborative project with Columbus-based branding agency Ologie was recognized recently when the college’s Viewbook was honored by HOW magazine’s 2011 International Design Awards, garnering a merit award. The piece and its award are featured in the March 2011 issue.

The relationship between Ologie and CCAD’s in-house Design Group was featured in the fall 2010 issue of IMAGE Magazine. “Students worked for many hours with staff members from the college and from Ologie, enriching their professional development while still in school. ‘As the students were doing their work, they were presenting their concepts to senior-level staff, which might not have happened in a regular internship at a design firm,’ says Creative Director Lindsay Kronmiller. Students develop the communication skills needed to articulate their concepts and are taught to understand client needs. Well prepared to bridge the gap between school and the professional world, most Design Group alumni are employed within three months of graduation.”

“’When prospective students, parents, and the general public encounter our materials, they are seeing student work,” said Kronmiller. ‘It is a great testament to the talent and ability of our students.’”

Owned by board of trustee member and alumna Bev Bethge (CCAD 1982-1986), Ologie is an award-winning branding agency that serves national and international clients. Ologie’s mission is to build brands that are clear, compelling, and consistent so they will be better known, better understood, and completely unique.

Another collaborative piece, “Think. Do.” received a silver ADDY award and a merit award from HOW magazine. Read more here.

Read the entire IMAGE story here.

Collaborative project "Think. Do." won two advertising awards recently.

CCAD’s collaborative project with Columbus-based branding agency Ologie was recognized recently when the college’s “Think. Do.” piece received two advertising awards.

“Think. Do.” received a silver award in the ADDY Awards Competition, a three-tiered national competition conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation. The ADDY Awards Competition is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition for creative excellence.

The piece was also recognized and honored by HOW magazine’s 2011 International Design Awards, garnering a merit award, which is featured in the March 2011 issue.

Owned by board of trustee member and alumna Bev Bethge (CCAD 1982-1986), Ologie is an award-winning branding agency that serves national and international clients. Ologie’s mission is to build brands that are clear, compelling, and consistent so they will be better known, better understood, and completely unique.

Ologie won a total of fourteen ADDY Awards in AAF District 5 for its engagement with CCAD, Capital University, Houghton College, Nationwide Insurance, and Purdue University.

Learn more about the collaboration between CCAD and Ologie in the 2010 spring and fall issues of IMAGE magazine.

Click here to see a video version of the publication.

CCAD's Senior Fashion Show is May 13, 2011

CCAD’s annual Senior Fashion Show fundraiser has become THE event to attend in May. This year’s Master’s of Design event will shift from a high-class brunch followed by a runway show to a high-octane runway show capped by two parties. The event is growing and so are the number of community members and companies that want to be a part of it. With tickets going on sale in less than two weeks, CCAD has announced the roster of sponsors and host committee members who are supporting this year’s fundraiser.

“Our runway show is a high-energy and chic experience,” said Stephanie Hightower, CCAD’s vice president for institutional advancement. “But more importantly this is a benefit to raise funds for scholarships, and the support of these sponsors allows us to not only create an exceptional event, but to leverage the college’s educational opportunities for the next generation of creative leaders.”

Limited Brands is leading the pack as title sponsor.

Additional sponsors include: Après-Runway Dance Party Sponsor: alive!; Runway Sponsor: EXPRESS; VIP Pre-Party Sponsor: Nationwide; ICON Award Sponsor: Justice; Catalogue Sponsor: Abercrombie & Fitch; Couture Sponsors: Huntington Bank, Macy’s, and R.G. Barry/Dearfoams; Media Sponsors: Capital Style, CD101 at 102.5, Radio One, Fashion Wire Press; In-kind Sponsors: AKADA Hair Salon, Cameron Mitchell Catering, The Diamond Cellar, Donatos Pizza, FRESH French Floral Boutique, Heidelberg Distributing Company, Lasting Impressions Event Rentals, Live Technologies Inc., Mukha Custom Cosmetics, Ologie, Pepsi-Cola Bottling of Columbus, Scott Cunningham, Tork.

Find these sponsors and the host committee listed at www.ccad.edu/fashion.

Tickets go on sale with special early-purchase pricing on Feb. 1 at www.ccad.edu/fashion.

When I think fashion I think exquisite works of art sailing down a runway, and I think W magazine.

When I was in college I carefully cut out the pages of W and hung them on my wall as art. But not before I had spent hours with the publication in my hands, my eyes taking in all the flash and nuance that come together to create that very particular experience.

"As I look at the current round of catalog proofs tacked up on my office wall I’m excited."

Just opening a fashion magazine is an experience. It’s tactile: The weight of the publication, the feel of the paper as I turn each page anticipating the next visual enchantment. Of course I love the fashion, but it’s not just looking at the fashion and fantasizing about wearing what is splashed on the pages that makes these magazines so fun. The photography is delicious. The design is delightful.

I want our audience to have a similar experience when they turn the pages of our fashion show catalog—I envision a guest sitting down minutes before the start of the show and carefully turning the slick pages eager to see what the next page will bring.

Last year the local design firm Ologie came on board—pro bono—to develop the print materials for the show. For the catalog, they brought in a professional photographer and did a full-on fashion photo shoot in CCAD’s photo studio. Then their design folks worked seemingly around the clock to create a fantastic magazine-style publication for us to share with our guests and industry professionals on the day of the show. And our guests were not the only ones to be wowed by the product—both the photography and the catalog won the prestigious ADDY® award. We don’t mess around.

Professionals know when “it” is “it.”

With the success of last year’s publication we knew we wanted to work with Ologie again, and fortunately for us they felt the same. This year we also brought in Scott Cunningham to do the photography. I could gush on for quite a while about Scott’s talent, vision and extraordinary high standards—but I don’t need to. Pick up a copy of his magazine CMH. The lush photography, elegant design, and killer editorial content speak on his behalf far better than I can.

Both of them generously are giving their time and talent to the project at no cost to us. We couldn’t do this otherwise.

So this year’s journey began as soon as school started back up last fall. Ologie sent out a few of its top guns: Senior Designer Jenn Stevens and Managing Creative Director Kelly Ruoff to meet with our fashion design students to get a feel for what this year’s collections were about. When Kelly and Jenn returned to Ologie they began creating—they created a whole brand for the show that incorporates elegant typography, sophisticated design, and engaging copywriting. They created the backbone of an experience.

We have since met and planned and discussed (all that editorial stuff—LOVE it!), and pulled off that fabu photo shoot I wrote about a few weeks ago. Photos have been chosen from the thousands that were taken and are being prepared for publication. Jenn has designed the layout for the catalog, and it is spot-on.

As I look at the current round of catalog proofs tacked up on my office wall I’m excited. In a kind of backwards process of what I did with those W magazines back in college, I see the individual pages coming together into a sleek and polished end product. But I still see the genius of the photographer’s eye in harmony with the designer’s vision.

And I think about you seeing it, and holding it, and experiencing it.

There’s still time to get tickets. Buy them online.

Check in next week to find out how the menu is shaping up for the Champagne brunch, and coming soon: meet the designer’s whose talent will soon take the stage.